Santa Fe dining update, please!!
 

My husband and I are returning to Santa Fe after 2 years, and we need an update on restaurants. I understand that the Coyote Cafe has changed hands, and the executive chef is now Eric DiStefano. I'm assuming that he is still doing a stellar job, but would appreciate any comments.

We love Cafe Pasqual's, The Shed, The Compound, etc., but wonder if anything new should be added to our visit.

Also, we are taking a day trip to Taos. Keeping in mind that we will be there for lunch only, at which restaurant must we absolutely dine?

Thanks everyone -

A few years ago, I ate at a place called Gabrielles. I tried to find it for lunch about 3 weeks ago, but couldn't. Then, on my way out of town, to the north, I passed it. UGH. For a casual lunch go there! I named my car after it! Gabriella is my car~long before Desperate Housewives.

Have you been to La Boca yet?

GypsyMaiden is referring to Gabriel's, on Hwy. 285 near the Santa Fe Opera.

Their food isn't bad, but the service was awful when we ate there about four years ago.

DebitNM has a thread in the New Mexico folder on updated Santa Fe restaurant recommendations.

In Taos, I've only eaten at the Apple Tree, but their food is really good. It's north of the Plaza.

Lee Ann

It doesn't get any better than Geronimo's for upscale dining in SF! annie

Hi Pam,
Geronimo's is still excellent even with Eric at Coyote, which, by the way, is not so excellent.

La Boca is very good, nice tapas restaurant, and reservations are needed. Lunch menu is excellent if you can't make dinner.

Amavi (the old Julian's). We heard great things about this romantic, Italian restaurant but ran out of time.

Tia Sophias isn't on your list. A must-stop for us for a real New Mexican breakfast.

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Taos: just spent 9 days there in January and hit most all the restaurants.

Graham's Grill -- cosmopolitan food in a comfortable atmosphere. Salads, gourmet sandwiches, fish, meat and a nice wine list. Covers everything and the food is very good. On the main road next to Michael McCormick Gallery at Kit Carson Road.

Then go across the street to Doc Martin's Adobe Bar for the best margarita, Cowboy Buddha. Of course, you'll need to walk around a bit after that before driving back to Santa Fe!

Your Santa Fe stops are very similar to ours so I hope you try La Boca or Amavi.

!A la Mesa! This is a new one that the foodies were talking about that went in where Cafe San Estephan was located ( Guadalupe and Aqua Fria; Guadalupe Church area). Dinner only but I've heard excellent reviews.

BeachGirl - I am sorry to hear your review about Coyote Cafe, even with Eric, as I just HIGHLY recommended it to my niece because of Eric. What did you find disappointing about the place, as we had intended to try it ourselves? We love the menu at the rooftop Cantina, which I hope they plan to keep, but was unable to recommend to my niece as the weather is not permitting at this time of the year.

Thanks, everyone! We are eagerly looking forward to trying all of your recommendations.

We will be in SF in June for 4 days with a 2 year old. Could either of you (PamNC or BeachGirl) advise if a child would be welcome at the rooftop Cantina at Coyote Cafe if we go early (5:30-6)? Thanks!

ElendilPickle ~ I have only been there once. Maybe it was good I didn't find it??!! :)

I'm not either of the people you asked but if it were me I wouldn't take a two YO there. My last visit was 2 years ago on a very late afternoon weekday and the rooftop was packed with people, almost exclusively adults, doing cocktails and light snacks. It was a loud, crowded, and noisy. Fine for grown ups but I think not so much little children.

Can't speak to the toddler question, but for the op, I just want to add one more voice to the La Boca recommendation...my husband and I were there last spring and loved it. There is a thread on which I detailed what we ordered, if you click on my name I guess you'd track it down.

((Y)) to La Boca. Make reservations. Not toddler friendly unless you go at an off hour.

Re: Toddler Q: Cantina would be fine as it is very casual. But a warning for Santa Fe; they are not child friendly as a whole. But down the street at The Shed toddlers are welcome but not in the nicer restaurants.

We will be visiting Santa Fe soon. I am noting some places mentioned here - La Boca, Amavi and others. I think we had a lovely dinner at Amavi (I couldn't remember th name of the restaurant until I read it here - thanks!) the last time we were in Santa Fe. Has anyone been to Ristra lately and how was it? Other lunch/dinner suggestions? Our son and DIL will be with us and they both enjoy great food in nice places.

Haven't been to Ristra in some time.

We like Bistro 315 (French bistro fare in a quant setting just south of the plaza).

Fuego at La Posada if you want white tablecloth, fine dining.

Geronimo is a standing favorite of mine and others. Continental cuisine.

!Andiamo! is a fun, Italian place over in Sambusco Mall area. DebitNM just ate there for NYE and liked it, too.

La Meson, a Spanish restaurant at the corner of Marcy and Washington (same street as Inn of the Anasazi). We had a nice dinner and bottle of wine there.

Oh! Just remembered they opened Encantodo Resort again. It's beautiful and the views and decor are stunning. A little pricey but I guess they have to pay for all the construction!
Encantado would be a nice place just before the sun goes down as it is in Tesuque (just a few minutes from Tesuque Market and El Nido). We ate in the bar and it was very cozy and loved the ambiance.
www.encantadoresort.com/dining

Not fine dining but for the best green chile burger you have to eat at Bobcat Bites.

My favorite breakfast spot is Tia Sophia's on San Francisco (just West of the plaza). Pasqual's is very good as well for any meal but the portions at breakfast are enormous.

BeachGirl

BeachGirl247, thanks so much for all the information! We are combining some fun for us with work for DS who is attending a composers conference. The Encantado Resort - love it - attended a dreamy Christmas event there a long time ago. We tried to find it two years ago but had trouble - maybe it was closed for renovations. DH and I discussed taking son and DIL there for a dinner. We only have 4 nights - too many great places for dining and not enough evenings!

Yes, Encantado just opened last year after EXTENSIVE renovations. It isn't the quaint lodge anymore. So if you haven't been to the new Encantado, you will be in for, hopefully, a pleasant surprise.

**We only have 4 nights - too many great places for dining and not enough evenings!**

We struggle with that same problem every visit!!

What are your "musts" for dining?

I checked out the website and it does look different(but lovely) from what I remember.

Dining "musts": great food, good service, a nice place with pleasant decor/atmosphere/surroundings, polite and helpful staff.

We are returning to the El Farolito (I think you recommended this place to me the last time) since we thought our son and DIL would enjoy staying there as we did for our last visit to Santa Fe. It is her first time to Santa Fe and she is very excited. She loves to shop, wine and dine, visit museums and points of interest, etc. - just like me so we get along just fine!

Any additional suggestions for dining in Santa Fe, NM?

PamNC, have you visited Santa Fe yet? I was wondering if you have a few restaurants to recommend.

Thanks.

La Boca - tapas and entrees, love the wine list, intimate space=few tables - make reservations. Lunch or dinner.

Geronimo - a must-stop on any trip to Santa Fe for us. Great cuisine, great service.

Coyote Cafe (old Geronimo chef, Eric DiStefano; you may get a better experience than we did) The Cantina is an outdoor patio on top of the adobe building - grab a seat along the wall & sip on their sangria while you people watching below. A great spot if it is warm.

Andiamo (Italian) in Sambusco shopping area.

Amavi (Italian, French and Spanish and chef is from SantaCafe and in the old spot for Julian's on Shelby St.)

Osteria D'Assisi (good Italian)

Not a fan of Tratorria Nostrani - Food, while good, isn't worth the prices charged or portions served. But the pretentious staff and manager are free! And nix your perfume or you'll be turned away with their "no perfume" policy.

Bistro 315 (French and delicious; Sundays are prix fix menu before 7 or maybe it's 6pm but excellent value and food is off of the regular menu-- appetizer, entree and dessert. We love this restaurant.
www.315santafe.com

The Pink Adobe: great old building and the menu still has some of The Pink's original owner's (Rosalea Murphy) items such as the "steak dunnigan" - grilled strip with green chiles. Another "must" for our visits.
www.thepinkadobe.com

The Dragon Room at The Pink Adobe: Great place before or after dinner. An eclectic, fun atmosphere and sometimes has live music. Stop in for a Rosalita - margarita made with cranberry and a splash of gran gala.

The Compound on Canyon Road - fine dining and similar to Geronimo.
www.compoundrestaurant.com

Also, La Casa Sena is a nice experience. The most beautiful courtyard in Santa Fe for dining. Nice wine list, too.

The Cantina (their bar) is a happening place during opera season as many players are the waiters and they periodically break into song -- lots of fun and very entertaining but expect to tip more if your waiter is a performer.

O'Keefe Cafe (you guessed it- connected to O'Keefe Museum). Lunch has a nice menu of salads, fish and delicious soups. Nice wine pairings and also have wine dinners so check ahead if that is of interest.

El Farol is a tapas/Spanish restaurant on Canyon Road just a door up from Geronimo. Lively atmosphere and on weekends live music takes over and is "the" place for kickin' up your heels with the locals.

Lunch: The Shed -
Tesuque Village Market,
Tomasita's: We visit it a least 2x while there and bring home their red and green sauce). Nothing fancy, locals place, no ambiance but excellent food. I'd sit anywhere to have their blue corn beef enchiladas with red sauce. They also serve vegetarian chile, too.

Bobcat Bites (voted Santa Fe's best green chile burger. I agree!)

Tia Sophia's: authentic NM cooking, breakfast or lunch. Don't be disappointed if there is a line as it moves very quickly. A must for us every visit. During a conference I ate their every morning.

Tesuque Village Market: out by Shidoni Foundry. It's been hit and miss lately but that is Santa Fe sometimes! Great tortilla soup and that alone is worth the trip. Breakfast is delicious, too, and offers granola and other items for those that aren't "seasoned" yet for chiles for breakfast!

Cafe Pasquals: creative Mexican. Put your name in and and wander around for a few or there is a community table that is open seating. Breakfast portions are huge but delicious. I highly recommend her chicken mole enchiladas and her lamb. Her mole is perfection.

I would skip Maria's unless you want to try one of their 200 margaritas which are very potent -- one is equal to two or three anywhere else it seems. The food is marginal except for the green chile chicken enchiladas as they were very good). Trader Joe's is across the street.

If you go to Tesuque Village Market for breakfast or lunch you can visit Shidoni Foundry right around the corner or head out to Tesuque Flea Market - great trinket shopping.

La Boca is fantastic. Geronimo is our first choice, then we move on down the list. Priorities you know!

The Shed on the plaza is a landmark and a must-do for their famous "shed red" and their green chile sauce. Order your plate "Christmas" if you want red and green chile. A Silver coin margarita is a great accompaniment to any meal, too. Splurge on calories with the hot fudge sundae. Yes, then you'll need a nap!

Santacafe is hit or miss but when it's a hit, it's fantastic! But we don't risk it when our trip is short. In the summer they have a beautiful courtyard in which to dine and it books up very quickly so make reservations.

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Hope that gives you a few more choices. Feel free to ask more specifics if you want.
BeachGirl

Beach Girl, thanks so much for all the suggestions and work to compile this list - printing it all out! Over the years we have been to a few of the places you mentioned - Casa Sena (outside dining for lunch perhaps if the weather is good since we go on the 1st), Geronimo, Santa Cafe, Amavi and some we have not yet been to.

We are looking forward to our trip and introducing our DIL to Santa Fe!